Milburn: Pupils know `I'm one of them'

From a family of nine, Consuelo Milburn grew up poor and hungry.She shares those experiences with her fifth-graders during classroomchats at Earle Elementary to inspire them to beat the odds.

"I let them know that I'm one of them," she said. "I try to makestudents feel comfortable with me by letting them know that mygrowing up was similar to theirs. I remember nine children having toshare one comb and brush."

Milburn, 55, has taught at Earle, 6121 S. Hermitage, for 19years and considers herself like a "grandmother" to many students.Strict, yet loving, she demands that her students give their best.

"The one thing I know that works is setting high …